[Artesunate and severe malaria in paediatrics].

Malaria is a life-threatening infection which affects especially non-immune subjects including children under the age of 5. Imported malaria is a rare disease in Europe but, with the increasing number of travelers and people who are visiting friends or relatives, it is important not to neglect it. Severe malaria leads to many pediatric deaths in countries with limited resources. The treatment of choice is a parenteral antimalarial. For a long time, only quinine was used in that case. Based on strong studies conducted in Asia and Africa, WHO (World Health Organization) has recommended the use of artesunate as a first-line treatment for severe malaria in adults and children since 2010.The use of artesunate has shown a reduction in mortality rate in severe malaria. In Europe, there still are several barriers to the implementation of these recommendations, especially in terms of availability and cost. In pediatrics departments and adults, artesunate is the first-line treatment in severe malaria, although close monitoring is essential, especially at the hematological side, monitoring the development of delayed post-artesunate haemolytic anemia (PADH), a known side effect.